Mariners Spring Training Preview: The Bullpen

Aug 20, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher

(40) celebrates with catcher

(35) after the win against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. The Seattle Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

**Editor’s Note: This is part three of a five-part series previewing Mariners Spring Training. Please feel free to check out Part one (Outfield) and Part two (Infield) with the links provided. Thanks for reading.

Aside from the revolving door that was the bottom three in the pitching rotation last season, the bullpen was the most disappointing part of 2013. Although you could argue defense– especially in the outfield– was up there too.

Before we look at what 2014 might look like in The ‘Pen, let’s agonize over last season’s numbers:

Bad Things (very bad things):

• Out of the 30 bullpens in the MLB the Mariners ranked 29th in ERA with 4.58. The ‘Pen that ranked 30th was the Houston Astros, whose ERA was bloated to 4.92. That’s no good, folks.
• They allowed 273 runs, 257 of those earned– the unearned runs were a combination of inherited runners from the starters and errors. I want to say it was mostly errors but it was mostly both, unfortunately.
• The ‘Pen had a 2.388 K/BB ratio over the course of the season. Also bad. The American League average was 2.47 K/BB. In the National League the average was slightly lower at 2.443 K/BB.
• They were 25th in the MLB with a .253 batting average against (BAA)
• And yay! They also had the 4th-most losses as a bullpen in baseball.
• The ‘Pen Also blew 23 saves en route to 33 losses in the ‘Pen, good enough again for 4th-worst in the league.
• They were 8th in home runs allowed at 55

But it wasn’t ENTIRELY terrible in 2013…

Good(ish) Things:

• The ‘Pen was 11th in baseball with 43 saves. Which isn’t all that bad considering they blew 23 others and only won 71 games. So there’s one pat on the back for the boys chilling out in Left Center Field.
• The Mariners bullpen was 1st, first, first, FIRST! in strikeouts in 2013 at 535 strikeouts over 505.0 Innings Pitched. That’s pretty sweet. Something for them to hang their hats on, and hopefully something that will lead to less inflated numbers in 2014.
• Hmm, that’s really it on the good unless I start digging into things so obscure Billy Beane wouldn’t know what I was talking about.

So if you weren’t already sure, last season was not good in the ‘Pen. And if you had finally squished those thoughts down into the depth of your subconscious, I am sorry for bringing them up again.

I’m done with Monday Morning Quarterbacking now so you can breathe easy.

Sep 18, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher

(54) watches from the dugout in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Candidates (in alphabetical order):

• Logan Bawcom (RHP)
• Blake Beavan (RHP) — likely only as a long reliever
• Danny Farquhar (RHP)
• Charlie Furbush (LHP)
• Bobby LaFromboise (LHP)
• Lucas Luetge (LHP)
• Brandon Maurer (RHP) — likely only as a long reliever.
• Yoervis Medina (RHP)
• Hector Noesi (RHP) — likely only as a long reliever.
• Stephen Pryor (RPH)
• Erasmo Ramirez (RHP) — only as a long reliever if he doesn’t find his way into the starting rotation.
• Tom Wilhelmsen (RHP)

And…..

• Fernando Rodney (RHP) — who has reportedly been signed by the Mariners for 2 years/$14 million with incentives.

Spots To Fill?

For most teams in the American League, the 25-man roster will consist of five starting pitchers, seven relief pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, and five outfielders– with one of the infielders/outfielders/catchers also being a regular DH. Though for the Mariners we have more DHs than lockers in the locker room.

So let’s assume– yes, I know what assuming does we have discussed it before– that the Mariners start the season with seven guys in the bullpen.

Leave no Doubt:

Fernando Rodney will be in the bullpen on Opening Day. The M’s are shelling out $7 million a year for him to be our closer, so unless he gets injured he better be out there. If not, oof, I don’t even want to go there.

Danny Farquhar will also be out there, more than likely as Rodney’s set-up man. Lord Farquhar pitched admirably last season after stabilizing the revolving door that was the closer role after Wilhelmsen stuffed his head into the warning track clay like an ostrich. Farquhar had 16 saves, 4 blown saves, and a 4.20 ERA that was inflated by a few poor outings earlier in the season. And in 55 2/3 innings pitched Farquhar struck out 79 batters. That’s good for a 1.4 K/IP.

Since the Doug Fister trade, Charlie Furbush has really been the only guy to have panned out– do you remember Casper Wells? The ‘Bush had a respectable year last season when he was being used properly– to shut down lefties in the middle of the lineup. But with the innings being eaten by the ‘Pen, Furbush was forced to pitch longer, and even in the 9th inning where he blew 6 saves.

He will be out there too, especially since it doesn’t seem too likely the M’s will be bringing back Oliver Perez, who was not only the best lefty but the most consistent arm in the ‘Pen in 2013.

Stephen Pryor had an AMAZING 2013 season– for the 7.1 innings he pitched to start the year before being derailed by a number of season-ending injuries.

In those 7.1 innings he gave up only three hits, one walk, and struck out seven. His ERA was 0.00 and his WHIP was 0.55. Of course none of those numbers are sustainable, but Pryor looked to be embracing his role in his sophomore season.

Look for this Spring Training to get him back into form, and barring any injury setbacks – some expect he could miss the first few months – I expect him out in the ‘Pen come Opening Day. His flaming fastball will be much-needed, especially with Carter Capps being traded for Logan Morrison this offseason.

Okay, so that gives us four guys that are all but shoe-ins for the bullpen in 2014. Or at least they are in my opinion– which is wrong so very often especially regarding the Mariners; so don’t hesitate to call me on my B.S.

Again, assuming we start the year with seven guys in the bullpen that leaves two more spots. One of those spots will go to a long reliever (AKA the guy who will be the 6th starter), and then the 7th spot will need to go to another lefty because as of now the ‘Bush is the only southpaw. There will also be a healthy competition between Wilhelmsen and Medina for the other RHP relief slot.

Aug 27, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Charlie Furbush (41) pitches to the Texas Rangers during the 7th inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Synthesis:

I hope everyone got through that relatively unscathed. There is a lot to think about when it comes to the 2014 Mariners. So much of it is uncertain. So much of it is a little frightening. And so much of it is contingent on PITCHING– which if you didn’t know wins championships. Just like defense wins championships in football: Seahawks case and point.

And don’t get me started on the Mariners defense.

The Seven-Man Bullpen:

• Long-Reliever (for when someone get’s shelled early): “Pocket Rocket” Erasmo Ramirez
• Right-Handed Reliever: Tom “Closing Time” Wilhelmsen
• Right-Handed Specialist: Stephen Pryor
• Left-Handed Reliever: Lucas Luetge
• Left-Handed Specialist: Charlie “The ‘Bush” Furbush
• Set-up Man: Danny “Lord” Farquhar
• Closer: Fernando Rodney

And that’s a wrap on the Sodo Mojo Mariners Spring Training Preview: The Bullpen. We are only four days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Surprise, Arizona.

It can’t come soon enough. In part because I just miss Mariners baseball. But even more so I am just as curious as the next guy as to how the heck this season is going to play out.